Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is a non-addictive drug that can be used to treat mild to moderate pain and fever. Acetaminophen is commonly used to treat abdominal pain, headache, arthritis and back pain, tooth pain, the common cold, sore throat, sinus infection, bites, stings, and sprains. Acetaminophen is available over the counter in the U.S. or at higher strengths by prescription.
How does Acetaminophen work?
Like NSAIDs, acetaminophen inhibits the production of prostaglandins in the body which promote fever. Unlike NSAIDs, acetaminophen is not a potent inhibitor of COX-1 or COX-2 and only has limited anti-inflammatory effects. Thus, acetaminophen is good at reducing fevers and appears to raise the threshold for pain, making it harder for nociceptive information to be interpreted as pain by the brain.
What are the names of some Acetaminophen products?
- Acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol, Paracetamol, Panadol)
- Common Brands that combine Acetaminophen with other drugs:
- Acetaminophen + aspirin + caffeine (e.g., Excedrin)
Risks
Some of the short-term side effects of paracetamol include:
- headache
- rash
- nausea
Some of the long-term risks of acetaminophen:
- Always talk to your doctor about how much is safe for you to take.
- In general, acetaminophen is safer than NSAIDS but does carry some risk in the long-term use.